Douglas Blake Acting Executive Director Office of Naval Research

Dr. Douglas C. Blake heads the Aviation Force Projection and Integrated Defense Department at the Office of Naval Research (ONR) in Arlington, Virginia. In addition, he is currently serving as the Acting ONR Executive Director. Blake is responsible for the Navy’s science and technology (S&T) investment in aircraft, air and surface weapons technology programs. He oversees the Sea Strike Pillar Future Naval Capability initiative. Blake also leads Marine Corps-focused research investments in support of mobility, firepower, command and control, manpower and training, and logistics.

Dr. Blake entered the Senior Executive Service in 2014. Blake served 20 years in the active-duty Air Force as both enlisted and an officer in a variety of positions including Korean Cryptologic Linguist, Intercontinental Ballistic Missile maintenance engineer, AFRL researcher and associate professor of aeronautics at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Upon retiring in 2002, he entered the private sector where he worked as the director of research and development for a small business involved in modeling and simulation.

In 2004, Blake entered the Air Force civil service as chief of the Computational Sciences Branch of AFRL. He held subsequent assignments in the AFRL as chief of the Aeronautical Sciences Division and deputy director of the Air Vehicles Directorate. He also served as the director of the 76th Software Maintenance Group at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, and as executive director of the Arnold Engineering Development Complex, Tennessee. Prior to his current assignment, Blake served in the Federal Aviation Administration’s Executive Service as the program director of the FAA Logistics Center, where he led a workforce of more than 600 employees engaged in supply-chain management; maintenance, repair and overhaul; and logistics support services for the U.S. National Airspace System.

Blake received his bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Missouri, Rolla in 1989; master’s and doctorate degrees in aeronautical engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio in 1993 and 1997 respectively; and a master’s degree in engineering management from the University of Colorado, Boulder in 2002. He is a 2005 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Air War College (via correspondence) and holds professional certifications in Systems Planning, Research, Development and Engineering, Level III; Program Systems Engineering, Level III; and Test and Evaluation, Level I.

Blake was awarded the U.S. Air Force Science and Engineering Award in 2002. In 2011 and 2012, he received Exemplary Civilian Service Awards. He is also a recipient of the Meritorious Civilian Service Award in 2014 and 2018 as well as the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense Award for Excellence in 2020.

Official Bio